Introducing Our Radon Services!

This certainly isn’t our first blog post about radon. And it definitely won’t be our last. But this blog does represent a very special first! DF Technical & Consulting Services Ltd. is very proud to announce the addition of Radon Services to the list of services we provide. Given the fact that radon exposure is a growing concern in Canada, we felt it was best to specialize in the detection of this radioactive gas.

What is radon? To bring you up to speed, radon is formed naturally by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. It is a colourless and odourless gas so, needless to say, it cannot be detected by sight or smell. When radon escapes from the ground and mixes in with the outdoor air, it is not generally a health concern. This is because its outdoor release results only in low concentrations.

So when does radon become dangerous? When trapped in enclosed spaces – such as your home – radon can accumulate to very high concentrations. And because we can’t smell or see it, we can unknowingly expose ourselves to it. The problem is that radon exposure in high concentrations is known for developing lung cancer. As a result, it’s of vital importance that people test their homes with the help of professionals.

How does radon get into the home? The gas is known to enter properties through openings and cracks that exist where there is soil connecting to the property. According to Health Canada, such openings can include “cracks in foundation walls and in floor slabs, construction joints, gaps around service pipes, support posts, window casements, floor drains, sumps or cavities inside walls.”

Is radon exposure really that big of a concern?In a CBC News report, Michael Pereira confirms that radon is actually the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers in Canada. This is of great concern, as radon levels are apparently increasing throughout the country. In his report, he highlights the fact that a 2012 Health Canada report found that 6.9 per cent of Canadians are living in homes that have radon levels that are considered to be too high.

What level of radon is considered dangerous? Pereira informs us that the Canadian guidelines for radon is 200 becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m3). “CBC News has obtained and plotted the data showing the results of approximately 14,000 radon tests in homes across Canada,” he writes, “Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in Canada, causing an estimated 3,000 deaths a year.”

Pereira goes on to state that since radon levels can vary from house to house, Health Canada recommends that all Canadians test their homes for radon. Naturally, at DF Technical & Consulting Services Ltd., we treat these findings very seriously. We consider it our duty to provide our clients with the greatest possible help in detecting contaminants in the air of their homes and workspaces.

Our new Radon Services are designed to determine for our clients the exact levels of radon in their homes and offices and whether or not they are safe. As always, we are committed to ensuring that your indoor air quality is the best it can be. For more information about our new Radon Services, please don’t hesitate to call DF Technical & Consulting Services Ltd. at 1-855-668-3131. You can also email us at info@dftechnical.ca.